Ruminator Books, the venerable St. Paul bookstore, now with a Minneapolis location as well, was an original participant in the Book Sense program. It also signed on to BookSense.com when that became an option.

By Carl Lennertz

First of all, thank you for the great nominations, especially from all the first-time nominators, whether at a specialty or general store, who feel as if books in their specialty now have a national voice!

And people are noticing:

Ohio’s Oldest Bookstore Becomes Hub for Flights and Food

Finalists for the Book Sense Book of the Year were announced on February 13. Detailed below are the finalists in the two Children's categories -- Children’s Literature and Children’s Illustrated.

A substantial majority of independent bookstores participating in the Book Sense national marketing program saw sales increases in 2001 over 2000, according to a recent ABA survey. Among those stores in the Book Sense program responding to the survey, 63 percent reported sales increases for the year. Over half of the stores noted increases of more than five percent. For the 2001 holiday season, 66 percent of the bookstores reported increases over a strong 2000 holiday season.

Booksellers are reminded that by now they should have received by mail from ABA ballots for both the 2002 ABA Officers/Board of Directors and the Book Sense Book of the Year Awards.

Appearing on the ballot for members’ ratification is the slate of officers elected by the ABA Board at its January meeting. The Board chose:

Book Sense, as well as individual Book Sense 76 picks, will be spotlighted in several advertisements in upcoming issues of The Atlantic Monthly and The New Yorker.

The March 2002 issue of The Atlantic Monthly will feature Burning Marguerite by Elizabeth Inness-Brown (Knopf, 0375411968) in a black-and-white Book Sense ad.

George P. Pelecanos, the crime-fiction author whose Hell to Pay (Little, Brown) is a Book Sense 76 pick for March/April, started laying the groundwork for a writing career when he was still a youngster -- although he didn't know it then.

Driving down Highway 2 in Leavenworth, Washington, tourists might pull off the road, thinking their eyes are playing tricks on them. Nestled in the majestic North Cascade Mountains is a small village that belongs in southern Germany.

For Get Caught Reading Month in May, Book Sense is supplying numerous ideas for booksellers. This month, expect the information about a "Community Wish List" program to help stores work with local groups in need of books.